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News & ArtsMonday, October 26, 2009
??!! "Hay-Seuss? What Kinda Name Is That?"
Posted by Paul Constant on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Larry Whitten took over a hotel in New Mexico and he insisted on some changes in his staff:
The tough-talking former Marine immediately laid down some new rules. Among them, he forbade the Hispanic workers at the run-down, Southwestern adobe-style hotel from speaking Spanish in his presence (he thought they'd be talking about him), and ordered some to Anglicize their names.No more Martin (Mahr-TEEN). It was plain-old Martin. No more Marcos. Now it would be Mark.
Whitten's hotel has been picketed by groups calling him a racist ever since.
"It has nothing to do with racism. I'm not doing it for any reason other than for the satisfaction of my guests, because people calling from all over America don't know the Spanish accents or the Spanish culture or Spanish anything," Whitten says.
Here is my question: Has this already been an episode of South Park, or is this going to be an episode of South Park next week?
6
Wait a minute. He was able to find workers in the hospitality industry - in New Mexico - who speak English?
Nope, I'm not buying it.
Nope, I'm not buying it.
7
Pathetic. Isn't it illegal to discriminate against people speaking foreign language in the office? I know it is where I work. Or is it just a company by company policy?
Does anyone know about this?
Does anyone know about this?
9
I would say that forcing certain employees to change their names based upon their ethnic background is a pretty clear violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. You could also argue the same w/r/t banning employees from speaking a foreign language, but I don't think that argument is as strong. Maybe someone who has been tracking the case law can give a more definitive answer.
12
Would love to hear how this tool pronounces the names of the streets and landmarks and even the name of the town itself.
And Larry, isn't that short for "Lawrence" - sounds sort of furrin to me; not a good, righteous Amurkin name like Jimmy Bob or Chuck or Bufort or some-such.
And Larry, isn't that short for "Lawrence" - sounds sort of furrin to me; not a good, righteous Amurkin name like Jimmy Bob or Chuck or Bufort or some-such.
14
Zeus: Why you keep calling me Jésus? I look Puerto Rican to you?
John McClane: Guy back there called you Jésus.
Zeus: He didn't say Jésus. He said, "Hey, Zeus!" My name is Zeus.
John McClane: Guy back there called you Jésus.
Zeus: He didn't say Jésus. He said, "Hey, Zeus!" My name is Zeus.
15
Another fucked up thing is...
Many people in northen NM, where Taos is, have been speaking spanish for generations. Generations that predate New Mexican statehood in 1912 or even the war we started to take the land from their gov't who took it from the tribes. Larry's the real foreigner in Taos and like many white foreigners in these parts is demanding that the majority whiten up.
Many people in northen NM, where Taos is, have been speaking spanish for generations. Generations that predate New Mexican statehood in 1912 or even the war we started to take the land from their gov't who took it from the tribes. Larry's the real foreigner in Taos and like many white foreigners in these parts is demanding that the majority whiten up.
20
Sounds like the Texan douche cops who were ticketing people for not speaking english.
http://www.kare11.com/news/whatsup/whats…
http://www.kare11.com/news/whatsup/whats…
21
That's just absolutely begging to go out of business. Every person with a Spanish surname in the state (and in my small town, there were six pages of Garcias in the phone book) is going to boycott the place. In six months, the only people willing to book there will be the Klan.
23
I think not speaking Spanish in front of your boss is a lame policy.
Not speaking Spanish (or at least minimizing it) in front of English-speaking guests to me actually seems reasonable at a hotel.
Changing the names is silly.
Not speaking Spanish (or at least minimizing it) in front of English-speaking guests to me actually seems reasonable at a hotel.
Changing the names is silly.
24
New Mexico has Spanish as on eof its official languages. It's in the constitution as a language of the people and all public documents (ballots, etc) are REQUIRED to be printed in Spanish and English.
Some people recognize how valuable it is to speak several languages. Why, some rich folks even spend thousands to send their kids to special schools to learn several languages.
Being multilingual is an advantage. What a dumbass.....
Some people recognize how valuable it is to speak several languages. Why, some rich folks even spend thousands to send their kids to special schools to learn several languages.
Being multilingual is an advantage. What a dumbass.....
25
gee, next he'll be breaking up families, stealing their children and sending them to Indian boarding schools or maybe giving them smallpox-infested blankets...WTF? What century is this guy living in?
26
I love that he's identified as a "former Marine."
When?
According to the report, he's been in the hotel business for 40 years.
So, one of two things is possible:
1. The Marines have a robust, but little known, hotel operation and military specialty.
or
2. He did a couple of years a few decades ago, and just likes using the honorific to gain some sort of currency with whomever he's dealing with. He was a Marine! Good for him. Here's a cookie.
When?
According to the report, he's been in the hotel business for 40 years.
So, one of two things is possible:
1. The Marines have a robust, but little known, hotel operation and military specialty.
or
2. He did a couple of years a few decades ago, and just likes using the honorific to gain some sort of currency with whomever he's dealing with. He was a Marine! Good for him. Here's a cookie.
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